After the 1-1 draw between Liverpool and Chelsea, coach Arne Slot said that boos from the stands were inevitable, because fans often judge the team's performance through the results. However, the reaction at Anfield largely stemmed from Liverpool's performance on the field.
The home fans were impatient from the beginning of the match, even when Liverpool took the lead. The atmosphere in the stands showed that fans clearly felt the game gradually leaning towards Chelsea long before the equalizer appeared.
After the match, Slot reacted quite harshly when asked if Liverpool would actively retreat deep to defend after taking the lead.
Right after we opened the score and missed the opportunity to increase the score to 2-0, I shouted loudly on the sidelines that we retreat deep and protect the goal, right? Of course we don't want to retreat our formation" - the Dutch strategist said sarcastically.
I think it's unfair if someone thinks I asked the players to go deep or give up pressing. Maybe everything looks like that, but that was never my intention" - Slot added.
Liverpool somewhat regained control in the second half against a Chelsea that had lost 6 consecutive matches in the Premier League before. However, the Anfield home team still had many difficulties in creating clear chances.
The lack of sharpness in attack is becoming an increasingly obvious problem under Slot. After the match, The Kop only achieved an expected goal score (xG) of 0.56 - the lowest since the narrow victory over Arsenal in August last year. This is also the first time since 2021 that Liverpool has created so few opportunities at home, when the matches are still taking place without spectators.
That is an unacceptable reality for Slot, who often emphasizes that Liverpool's biggest problem this season lies in their ability to take advantage of opportunities. Although he does not hesitate to mention the statistics, Liverpool is currently only seventh in the Premier League in terms of xG - their lowest achievement in a decade.
The "Red Brigade"'s playing style has also become slower and lacks breakthrough. On average, Slot's team needs 321 passes to score a goal this season, a significant increase compared to 234 last season.
I don't like simply controlling the ball. I like creating chances, assisting and scoring goals" - Slot emphasized. However, how to realize that is becoming a big problem for the Dutch coach.
Another hot spot at Anfield came from the decision to substitute young player Rio Ngumoha to play. This move caused Slot to suffer boos from the stands. After the match, he explained that the young player had cramps before being substituted.
Despite facing a lot of pressure, Slot still expressed confidence in Liverpool's reform plan in the future: "I know what we need to do to change the situation. I completely believe that Liverpool next season will be very different from the present, different in terms of results and playing style.
According to experts, Liverpool needs to significantly strengthen their force, especially in the defensive midfielder and right-back positions. However, what worries fans the most is still the ineffectiveness in attack.
And if the boos at Anfield are a sign reflecting the mood of home fans, Slot certainly still has a lot to do to convince fans that he is the right person to bring Liverpool back to the top competitive position.
